# First Words Christmas vs First Words Phonics Pro

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Words Phonics Pro at every 2 months against First Words Christmas's every 13 months. First Words Phonics Pro also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.2). First Words Christmas's advantage is review sentiment (92% vs 67%) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

First Words Christmas costs $1.99 and First Words Phonics Pro $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

First Words Christmas holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of First Words Christmas's written reviews are positive against 67% of First Words Phonics Pro's.

First Words Christmas ships an update every 13 months, First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Words Christmas | First Words Phonics Pro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.5 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-christmas/id342540962/reviews)** | [4.3 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | **92.3% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 21 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.2 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Learning Touch LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/773246929) | [Read 'n' Learn](https://appshunter.io/developer/1005499252) |

## What reviewers say

### First Words Christmas

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-christmas/id342540962)

An educational app for toddlers featuring a Christmas theme. It helps young children learn 40 holiday-themed words and their corresponding sounds through interactive letter and word matching.

**Highlights:** 40 Christmas-themed words, Matching holiday sounds, Interactive letter and word matching, Toddler-tested design, Adjustable difficulty levels, Engaging learning tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Words Phonics Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-words-phonics-pro/id570040709)

This educational app teaches children reading and spelling through synthetic phonics. It offers two learning levels and various hint options to customize difficulty, making learning engaging with colorful visuals and sound effects.

**Highlights:** Synthetic phonics learning levels, Learn words and spelling, Letter recognition and matching, Interactive exploration interface, Child-friendly user interface, Engaging artwork and sound effects, 121 words in 5 categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Words Christmas free?

First Words Christmas costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is First Words Phonics Pro free?

First Words Phonics Pro costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Words Christmas or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Christmas is rated higher. First Words Christmas averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while First Words Phonics Pro averages 4.3 from 22 ratings.

### Do First Words Christmas or First Words Phonics Pro have ads?

Neither First Words Christmas nor First Words Phonics Pro shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Words Christmas or First Words Phonics Pro?

First Words Christmas ships an update every 13 months, and First Words Phonics Pro every 2 months. Most recently, First Words Christmas was updated on October 23, 2026 and First Words Phonics Pro on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*